North Carolina's Reaction to John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

A study in U.S. history will show that John Brown's raid had a substantial impact on the people of Virginia, but a deeper look will show how it affected other states, especially those which did not desire secession.This exhibit will discuss how John Brown's raid was perceived in North Carolina from 1859 to 1861, focusing primarily on the immediate response to the raid, and the affect it had on politics. The most profound affect was the increased fear toward Northern militant abolitionists, which prompted many North Carolinians to demand a trained and armed militia.